Dysregulated survivin expression in nasal polyps of individuals with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease.

Background: A derailed balance of cell proliferation and apoptosis is presumed to result in cell hyperplasia as a typical feature of nasal polyps. Survivin, a protein of the inhibitors of the apoptosis family is proposed to promote polyp formation. However, studies concerning survivin expression in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps are rare and the specificity of the survivin expression in nasal polyps from individuals with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) has not been investigated.

Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in nasal polyps of aspirin-intolerant patients.

Objective: To study differences between aspirin-tolerant patients and aspirin-intolerant patients concerning vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Recent publications strongly suggest the involvement of VEGF and its receptors in the pathophysiologic process of nasal polyps.

Design: We subjected 43 polyp specimens to semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis.